Device for inspecting rifle barrels or the like



May 28, 1957 L. JACOBUS DEVICE FOR INSPECTING RIFLE BARREI S OR THE LIKE Filed June 18, 1956 uill 'i'iiim IN V EN TOR. [cu/.5 Jflcqeus United States Patent DEVICE FOR INSPECTINLG RIFLE BARRELS OR THE IKE Louis Jacobus, Stamford, Conn., assignor to Uliman Products Corporation, Norwalk, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application time is, 1956, Serial No. 592,168 4 Claims. or; sa -14 The present invention relates to a device for inspecting and examining the interior of elongated tubes made of ferrous metal or of tubes associated with ferrous metal structure, such as barrels of guns and rifles.

Inspecting devices for the purpose aforesaid have heretofore been made. Such devices generally include a mirror for reflecting light from a light source into the interior of the tube and in turn, to reflect the interior lit is another object of the present invention to provide an inspecting device of the character described which does not require and does not utilize any mechanism for mounting and securing it in position.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide 'an inspecting device of the character described that may be adjusted in position on the support without the need for manipulation of any securing mechanism, and therefore, with great speed and facility.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an inspecting device of the character described which is safely held in fixed position against inadvertent displacement.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an inspecting device of the character described which is light weight and foldab'le into a substantially flat compact arrangement so that it may be conveniently stored or carried in a pocket or the like.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an inspecting device of the character described which is highly efiicient for its purpose.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the rifle inspecting device of the present invention will become readily'apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing and from the description following. it is to be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible, and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the device of the present invention shown as supported on and over the end of a rifle barrel;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view, partly in section, of the inspecting device of the present invention;

2,793,561 Patented May 28, 195'] Fig. 3 is a plan view of the inspecting device taken at an angle of to that of Fig. 2; and

-Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now in greater detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the rifle barrel inspecting device therein shown comprises a stem or handle 10 and a reflector or mirror 12 connected to one end of the handle 10 by universal joint means, generally designated as 14.

The mirror 12 may be mounted in a metallic frame 16 to which may be secured a tapered lug 18 having a ball 20 at its free end, for mounting within a socket to provide a free adjustable ball and socket joint at the point.

The handle 10 may comprise a tube or housing 22 of non-magnetic material, such as copper, brass, aluminum or plastic, of polygonical cross section as triangular or rectangular, so that it has flat outer surfaces 24. The tube 22 may be relatively short, as approximately one and one half inch or two inches in length. Disposed centrally in the interior of the tube 22 is a magnetic core, 26, of permanent magnetic characteristics, of elongated shape but shorter than the tube 22 and which contacts the interior Walls thereof. Disposed within each end of the tube 10 are plugs, 28 and 30, of magnetic material, preferably cold rolled steel, one of which, as 30, is provided with a tapered rod-like extension, 32, at the end of which is formed a ball, 34, for a second ball and socket joint. The two balls 20 and 34 may be connected by integrally formed sockets provided by a pair of plates, 36, each having a one half socket 38, at each end thereof, which plates are secured to one another, with the half socket facing and the balls engaged therein, by means of a bolt, '40, passing through the center of the plates 36 and the nut 42, engaged one end thereof.

The plugs 28 and 30 preferably contact the magnetic core 26 within the interior of the tube and may terminate flush with the ends of the tube 22 or may project slightly and beyond with the projecting parts enlarged to have their surfaces coextensive with the surface of the tube 10.

in use, the device of the present invention may be disposed, by its stem 10, at either end of a gun barrel or the like or on the metallic portion of the gun stock, with a flat face 24 of the handle 10 disposed in preferably longitudinal position relative to the gun barrel, and when in such position the mirror 12 may be adjusted by the joint 14, at a proper angle to receive the light from a light source 'and to reflect the interior of the barrel to the observer, in the conventional manner.

The magnetic force of the magnetic core 26, as transmitted through the plugs 28 and 30 is suflicient to keep the device not only safely on the member on which it is supported, against falling off therefrom, but also to keep it from inadvertently shifting position on the supporting member; at the same time permitting the rapid and accurate shifting of the position by hand, for such adjustment as may be desired by the operator.

This completes the description of the rifle barrel inspecting device of the present invention and the manner of its use. It will be readily apparent thatsuch device is of relatively simple construction; that it may be mounted without the use of any clamping or securing mechanism; that, when mounted, it will be safely held in place, in fixed position, on the ferrous support; that it may be easily shifted in place for adjustment; and, finally, that it may be folded, compactly along its universal joint to provide 'a relatively flat small, smooth, non-snagging package that may be conveniently and safely stored or carried.

It will be further apparent that numerous variations and modifications in the rifle barrel inspecting device of the present invention may be made by anyone skilled in the art, in accordance with the principles of the invention 3 hereinabove set 'forth and without the exercise of any inventive ingenuity. I desire, therefore, to be protected for any and all such modification and variation that may be made within the principles of the invention and the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. A device for inspecting the interior of a rifle barrel or the like, comprising a stem and a reflector pivotally joined to said stem at one end thereof, said stem comprising a tubular housing of non-magnetic material, a core of permanent magnetic material of lesser length than said housing disposed centrally therewithin, and a plug of magnetic material fitted into each end of said housing into contact with said core, one of said plugs having an extension formed with a pivot element at its free end whereby it is joined with said reflector.

said housing into contact with said core; one of said plugs 4.- having an extension formed with a universal joint element whereby it is connected to said reflector.

3. A device for inspecting the interior of a rifle barrel or like, comprising a stem and a reflector, said reflector connected to one end of said stem by a universal joint, said stem comprising a tubular housing of non-magnetic material, open at each end, a core of permanent magnetic material disposed centrally Within said tubular housing, a plug of cold-rolled steel fitted into each end of said housing into contact with said core, one of said plugs having an extension formed with a universal joint element at the free end thereof whereby it is connected to said reflector.

4. A device for inspecting the interior of a rifle barrel or like, comprising a stem and a mirror connected to one end of said stem by a universal joint, said stem comprising an open ended tubular housing of nonmagnetic material and of polygonal cross-section and having fiat outer faces, a core of permanent magnetic material disposed substantially centrally within said housing, and a plug of coldrolled steel fitted into each end of said tubular housing into contact with said core, one of said plugs having an extension formed with a ball atone end whereby it is connected to a cooperating universal joint element connected to said mirror. Y

No references cited.

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